In this activity children will determine from which type of material the robot should be made and will learn that some metals are magnetic.
Description
A robotic caterpillar has been designed which can crawl across the surface of the heart to deliver treatment. The tiny robot, just a few centimetres long, can move at up to 18 centimetres per minute, controlled by a joystick from outside the body. Doctors follow the robot's movement on the heart's surface using a magnetic tracker on the skin.
Children will determine from which type of material the robot should be made. They will learn that some metals are magnetic. They will classify a range of materials, including metals as magnetic or non-magnetic and explain how their work enabled them to do this. They will describe and explain how magnets can be used.
Learning Objective:
- that some metals are magnetic but most materials are not
Children will learn:
- to carry out an experiment to test a prediction
- to apply scientific knowledge to everyday situations
These resources were initially developed in partnership with the Centre for Science Education, Sheffield Hallam University.
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